Method and apparatus for mending knit fabric

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mending snags and pulls in knit fabrics. The invention is particularly applicable for knit fabrics used in apparel and to light weight fabric with a lock stitch such as &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;no run&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; hosiery. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a mending device with a blade member driven in a reciprocal fashion such that the tip of the blade traces a linear or near linear path. A preferred method is disclosed wherein the reciprocating blade tip is applied to a piece of snagged fabric that is stretched over a mending cup. The mending device is maneuvered so that the path traced by the blade tip corresponds to the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;pull thread line&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; formed by the distorted knit stitches until the yarn loop is drawn back into the fabric and the distorted stitches resume their original shape.

United States atent [19] Davenport 1 Sept. 18, 1973 [75] Inventor: Lonnie ReynoldsDavenport,

Princeton, Ky.

[73] Assignee: Pair-X, Inc., Princeton, Ky.

[22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 169,702

[52] US. Cl. 66/1 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney-Robert C. Miller et al.

57 ABSTRACT Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mending snags and pulls in knit fabrics. The invention is particularly applicable for knit fabrics used in apparel and to light weight fabric with a lock stitch such as no run hosiery. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a mending device with a blade member driven in a reciprocal fashion such that the tip of the blade traces a linear or near linear path. A preferred method is disclosed wherein the reciprocating blade tip is applied to a piece of snagged fabric that is stretched over a mending cup. The mending device is maneuvered so that the path traced by the blade tip corresponds to the pull thread line" formed by the distorted knit stitches until the yarn loop is drawn back into the fabric and the distorted stitches resume their original shape.

16 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,068

6 Sheets-Sheet l I Q so Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,068

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,068

6 Sheets-Sheet :5

96.6 44A 68 HA '3\ Patented Sept. 18, 1973 .6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 15

FIG. .13

' luvmwon LONNIE R. DAVENPOR T- 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm GP INVENTOR LONNIE R. DAVENPORT Patented Sept. 18, 1973 Patented Sept. 18, 1973 3,759,068

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 mvrgu'ron LOYNINIE R. DAVENPORT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MENDING KNIT FABRIC BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, the use of knitted fabrics in apparel has increased markedly.

Womens apparel and, more recently, men's apparel is increasingly being cut from double knit fabrics, warp knit fabrics, and the like.

The stitch structure of these knitted fabrics is mor complex than that of simple knits such as those used in under garments and hosiery. Double knit fabrics, for example, are commonly thought of as fabrics with fine rib structures on both sides of the fabric. They are produced on a machine with a double set of needles. The fabrics have the appearance of twice knitted jersey fabric and are more dimensionally stable than single needle or conventional jersey fabric. Most double knit fabric is made on circular double knit machines but it can be knit on other types of machines as, for example, V- shaped flat bed knitting machines.

The yarn used in most garment weight knit fabrics falls in a denier range of 100 denier to 150 denier. Examples of specific yarns so employed are 100 denier, 34 filament; 135 denier, 50 filament; and 150 denier, 34 filament. Most of the knit fabrics produced from these yarns fall within a range of l8-cut construction to 24-cut construction. The finer cuts such as 22 -cut and 24-cut will, of course, have a finer stitch structure as the fabric has a greater number of stitch courses per inch. Some 12 to l6-cut fabric has also been used to fabricate garments.

Single knit fabric is, of course, also quite popular for mens and women's apparel, particularly that fabric knit from yarn falling in the previously mentioned denier range of 100 to 150.

One problem common to many types of knit fabric is that of susceptibility to pulls and snags. A knitted stitch of the fabric will catch on a sharp object, projection or the like and the stitch will be pulled out of the plane of the fabric. The yarn making up the loop that extends from the fabric is yarn from adjacent stitches. As the yarn is withdrawn from the fabric structure into the loop, these adjacent stitches will distort and be diminished in size. The distorted stitches form a pull line in the fabric that extends on both sides of the pull loop.

Pulls and snags are one of the reasons that some garments such as mens double knit suits are increasingly being fabricated from a finer cut fabric such as 22 and 24-cut fabric. A fine r gauge fabric has smaller stitches that are less likely to be snagged or pulled.

Knitted fabrics made from light denier-yarns are particularly susceptible to pulls and snags. For example, womens hosiery may be made from light denier yarns such as l5/l; l5/3; 17/2; 20/2; 20/3; 20/7; and 30/2 and quite often this yarn is knit into a simple knit hosiery fabric. Pulls and snags in hosiery often break, causing,

runs in the fabric. In an attempt to control or eliminate runs in women's hosiery, light denier hosiery yarn has been knit into fabric with a more complicated locked stitch. This type of fabric will still snag or pull but, if the pull loop breaks, the fabric is less likely to run.

The manufacturers and processors of knit fabrics consider the problem of pulls and snags to be one of considerable magnitude. Despite attempts at careful handling, pulls develop in every stage of handling of knit fabrics.

Prior art devices for the repair of pulls and snags do exist but these devices have been limited in the type of knit fabric that they can repair. To date, the only successful pull and snag mending machines are for use on light denier, single knit hosiery. An example of such a mender is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,570,637, issued on Oct. 9, ll in the name of Merle M. Brown and directed to a Method and Apparatus for Mending Hosiery."

This type of prior art machine will not satisfactorily mend pulls and snags in knit fabrics that have a single needle or simple jersey stitch structure but are of a relatively heavy denier. Nor will these prior art machines satisfactorily mend pulls and snags in double knit fabrics, warp knit fabrics, flat bed fabrics and the like that have a more complicated and complex stitch structure. Additionally, these prior art machines are unsatisfactory to mend pulls and snags in the previously discussed lock stitch no-run type hosiery, as distinguished from hosiery with a simple stitch structure such as the one illustrated in the said U.S. Pat. No. 2,570,637. Bonded fabrics, where two pieces of knitted fabric are fastened together with adhesive, also pull and snag in a manner that cannot be mended with prior art devices.

Because of the absence of a machine and method capable of mending pulls and snags in the just described types of fabrics, knitting mills are forced to cut snagged portions out of the fabric that they sell. Retail stores must return garments to the manufacturer when the garments are delivered with pulls and snags.

As is apparent, a machine and method for mending pulls and snags in fabric with a complex knit and/or relatively heavy denier yarn would be welcome by the knitting industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTlON Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mending pulls and snags in knit fabric. The invention is particularly applicable to knit fabrics used in apparel and having a relatively heavy denier and to light weight fabrics with a lock stitch construction such as no-run" hosiery.

A hand-held mending device is characterized by a working tool or blade that is driven in a reciprocal path. A motor drives an arm through a gear train and cam so that the arm reciprocates or vibrates in and out of the mender housing. The blade is attached to the arm at an angle and has a pointed tip formed on its other end.

The tip of the blade is the portion of the working tool that is brought into contact with the fabric to be mended. When viewed edgewise, the blade tip is narrow or thin but when viewed from the side, the tip has a profile somewhat wider than the width of the upper portion of the blade and has curved sides leading to a point on the end of the blade tip.

A single blade is preferred but, if desired, a blade may be attached to each side of the reciprocating arm. The two blades would then be separated by the thickness of the arm and the tips of both blades should trace a path in the same plane.

Other drive means may be employed to reciprocate or vibrate the mender blade. For example, I have constructed a mender with a single blade of the type described above but driven by a vibratory motor of the type found in some electric shavers. It is desirable to drive the blade so that the path traced by the point of the tip will be linear or near linear.

The method of the present invention may be employed to mend knit fabric pulls and snags easily and quickly.

The fabric to be mended is stretched across a mending cup of proper size. The diameter of the cup should be somewhat greater than the pull line formed in the fabric by the distorted stitches.

The fabric may be placed on the cup so that the side of the fabric with the loop is outside the cup or, alternatively, facing the interior of the cup. The choice of loop out or loop in is a function of, among other things, the stitch structure of the fabric and the side of the fabric on which the pull line is most noticeable or detectable. Often, equal result will be obtained with either side of the fabric facing the outside of the cup.

The fabric is tensioned across the mending cup and a wetting agent may be applied to the fabric in the region of the pull. The wetting agent serves as a lubricant and also holds the filaments of the pull thread together. The application of a wetting agent is an optional step and equal results may often be obtained without the application of the wetting agent.

The mending device is turned on so that the blade will be reciprocating and the tip of the blade is brought into contact with the stretched fabric. The tension of the fabric is controlled by the operators hand as it grips the fabric and mending cup. For best results, the fabric should be loose enough to be depressed by the tip of the blade yet should offer some resistance to the weight and motion of the blade.

The operator applies the moving blade to the fabric so that the path of the blade tip is parallel to but slightly displaced from the pull line of the fabric and moves the mender back and forth along the fabric. The mender is then maneuvered by the operator so that the path of the blade tip moves back and forth along the pull line until all the yarn of the loop is drawn back into the-fabric and the stitches are restored to substantially their original shape.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mending device of the present invention as the device is being applied to a piece of knit fabric that is stretched over a mending cup.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a mending cup with a piece of snagged knit fabric stretched thereon. The snag loop is on the outside of the cup.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a mending cup with a piece of snagged knit fabric stretched thereon, but with the snag loop side of the fabric facing the interior of the cup.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the drive mechanism of one embodiment of the mending device of the present invention. I I

FIG. 5 is a side view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the drive mechanism of another embodiment of the mending device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the blade tip on the mending device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an edge view of the blade of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the blade used in the mender of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the mender of FIG. 1, showing the location of an off-on switch to be actuated by the operators index finger.

FIG. 1 1 is a side view of the path traced by the blade tip as it reciprocates in the mender housing.

FIG. 12 is a photograph ofa piece of double knit fabric, enlarged so that the stitch structure is clearly visible.

FIG. 13 is a photograph of another section of the fabric of FIG. 12 but after a snag or pull loop has been formed in the fabric.

FIG. 14 is a photograph of still another section of the fabric of FIG. 12 that had a snag or pull loop formed therein that was partially mended by the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a photograph of still another section of the fabric of FIG. 12, showing the appearance of a fully mended snag or pull.

FIG. 16 is a photograph of one side of a piece of knit bonded fabric after a snag has been mended by the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a photograph of another section of the fabric of FIG. 16, showing a pull thread loop in a bonded knit fabric.

FIG. 18 is a photograph ofa piece of double knit fabric enlarged to show a pull loop on the right side of the photograph and a mended pull loop on the left side of the photograph.

FIG. 19 is a photograph of a piece of light denier, lock stitch, no-run hosiery enlarged to show a pull loop on the right side of the photograph and a mended pull loop on the left side of the photograph.

FIG. 20 is a photograph ofa piece of relatively heavy denier, simple knit flat bed fabric enlarged to show a pull loop on the right side of the photograph and a mended pull loop on the left side of the photograph.

FIG. 21 is a photograph of another piece of double knit fabric enlarged to show a pull loop on the right side of the photograph and a mended pull loop on the left side of the photograph.

FIG. 22 is a photograph of still another piece of double knit fabric enlarged to show a pull loop on the right side of the photograph and a mended pull loop on the left side of the photograph.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the apparatus of my invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawing. The pull thread mender is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 in the position of use and is indicated generally by the numeral 10. Mender housing 11 may be a generally cylindrical shaped housing and has an end plate 12 with a slot 13 formed therein. A reciprocating arm 14 extends through slot 13 and has sufficient clearance therewith to permit a reciprocal motion of arm 14 when it is driven by a motor and associated drive train located within housing 11.

A blade 20 is rigidly attached to arm 14 at an angle that will allow the blade to be pointing in a generally downward direction when the mender is in use. The lower most end of blade 20 forms a blade tip 21 and terminates in a blade tip point 22.

A suitable drive mechanism for reciprocating arm 14 may be best understood with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5of the drawing. A motor 30 is mounted in mender housing 11 by means of motor mounts 31 that encircle the motor and contact the interior surface of housing 11. Motor 30 has a motor shaft 32 protruding from one end thereof and driving gear 33 is fixidly mounted to shaft 32 for rotation therewith. Driving gear 33 may be a bevel gear that mates with a driven bevel gear 34 mounted at right angles with driving gear 33. Driven gear 34 is mounted on shaft 35 which, itself, is mounted for rotation by passing through bearing holes 36, 37 on gear support cars 38, 39, respectively. These ears may conveniently be formed as a portion of the housing of motor 30.

An eccentrically mounted cam 40 is fixidly mounted to one side of driven gear 34. Thus as gear 34 is driven by gear 33, cam 40 will rotate eccentrically about shaft 35. With particular reference to FIG. 5, cam 40 is positioned within cam following slot 41 that is formed in one end of the reciprocating arm mounting means 42. Arm 14 is attached to mounting means 42 by means of conventional screws, rivets, or the like 43. Mounting means 42 is itself supported and guided for reciprocal motion by means of slotted bearing guides 44, 45. These bearing means are fixidly attached to the interior surface of mender housing 11 and may have slots 46, 47 formed therein at a location and of a shape to complementarily encompass the edge surfaces of element 42.

Motor 30 is actuated by depressing electrical switch 50 (FIG. with the operators index finger. When the motor is energized, shaft 32 and gear 33 will rotate and will drive gear 34 about shaft 35. Cam 40 carried by gear 34 will rotate between the position shown in solid lines and the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 and will engage cam slot 41 in element 42 to drive arm 14 and its attached blade in a reciprocal path indicated by arrow 48 in FIG. 5.

Another embodiment of the drive mechanism of the mender may be understood with particular reference to FIG. 6. Parts common to both embodiments are numbered with like numerals and motor 30 drives motor shaft 32 and its attached driving gear 33 in the same manner as that of the first described embodiment. Driven gear 34A meshes with driving gear 33 in the same manner as the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 but has formed on its other side a separate set of gear teeth 60. These gear teeth mesh with a second gear 61 mounted for rotation in the mender housing on gear shaft 62. Gear cam arm 63 is eccentrically mounted on gear 61 at pivot point 64. Pivot point 64 is offset from'the location of gear shaft 62 and pivot point 64 will allow relative motion between gear 61 and lever 63 when gear 6i is rotated by its engagement with gear teeth 60. Ann 63 is pivotally mounted at its other end to driving lever 65 by means of pivot 66. Lever arm 65 is mounted in the motor housing at point 67 so that rotation of gear 61 and the operative connection of link 63 will cause lever 65 to oscillate between the position shown in solid lines and the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. Lever 65 is pivoted at point 68 to reciprocating arm 14 and, as lever 65 oscillates back and forth, arm 14 will be driven in a manner shown by arrow 48 in FIG. 6. It is noted that the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 has a drive mechanism that permits the formation of mender housing 11A with a smaller forward section 11B. Appropriate bearing members 44A and 45A are mounted within portion 118 of the housing in a manner similar to the previously described bearing members 44, 45.

Blade tip 21 may best be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 11. Blade 20 is attached to arm 14 at anangle so that blade 20 points generally in a downwardly direction when the mending device 10 is being used to mend a piece of fabric. The lowermost end of blade 20 has formed thereon a tip 21 of a thickness somewhat less than blade 20. The tip may be tapered as shown in FIG. 8 or, alternatively, may be a separate element fixidly attached to blade 20 and somewhat thinner than blade 20. Tip 21 terminates in a point 22 that is formed at the vertex of two curved surfaces 23 and 24. The thickness of the blade tip at point 25 (FIG. 8) should be wide enough to avoid a knifelike edge so that the blade will not cut the yarn filaments when the blade is applied to the fabric to be mended.

The tip of blade 22 traces a linear or near linear path 26 (FIG. I 1) when it is reciprocated by arm 14 and the associated motor drive. I have found that it is desirable to maintain path 26 in as near a linear path as possible although I have obtained good mending results with a point that is moved in a slight arc. Curved edges 23 and 24 improve the mending capabilities of my device as they contact the fabric, but I have found that blade tip formed with less curved or straighter sides will give satisfactory results for some types of fabric.

An alternative embodiment of the blade assembly of my mender is visible in FIG. 9. Two separate blades 20 and 20A may be mounted on opposite sides of arm 14 so that the path traced by the moving tip of both blades lies within a single plane. It is noted, however, that the mending action of my mender is more easily controlled with a single blade as previously described.

I have found that a D. C. electric motor in the 500 series manufactured by the Rowe Company with a torque output of 1.02 ounce/inch and a non-load speed of 5,000 rpm is suitable for use in my mender. Suitable rectifying means would be included with the device so that it may be operated with standard /120 A.C. Suitable transformers and the like may be provided to adapt the device to the power supply of other countries. The gear ratios in the drive train may be chosen so that blade 20 oscillates at 3,000 cycles per minute under load conditions, i.e., when the blade tip is in contact with the fabric to be mended. Higher or lower vibratory cycles may be employed but I have found that the value of 3,000 cycles per minute enables the operator to satisfactorily mend pulls in knitted fabric. The eccentric driving mechanism may be designed to provide a blade tip stroke of approximately threeeighths inch. I have found that a blade tip thickness of 0.014 inch gives satisfactory results. The angle between blade 20 and arm 14 may be 78 as measured from a horizontal line on arm 14.

A preferred embodiment of the method for using the just described pull thread mender may best be understood with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The fabric F to be repaired is stretched across a mending cup C and held in place by the operator's hand. The fabric may be placed on the cup so that the snagged or pulled loop of yarn L extends from the surface of the fabric that is away from the interior of the cup (FIGS. 1 and 2) or, alternatively, the loop may be extending toward the interior of the cup (FIG. 3). In the latter case, the loop cannot be seen by the operator when the fabric has a complex stitch structure of a relatively heavy denier yarn.

In either case, however, a pull thread line P will be visible. Pull thread line P is formed by the stitches that have been distorted when yarn has been withdrawn to form loop L. As is visible in FIGS. 1-3, the size of cup C should be sufficient to allow the entire pull line P to be located within the circumference of the cup. The effectiveness of the mending device will be reduced if a portion of the pull line is pulled over the edge of the cup.

The operator will tension the fabric across the open end of the cup with one hand and may optionally apply a wetting agent to the fabric in the region of the loop and pull line. Such a wetting agent will tend to hold the filaments of the loop together and will provide some lubrication for the thread as it is drawn back into the structure of the fabric. The application of the wetting agent is optional and I have found that many fabrics may be satisfactorily repaired without the use of same.

Grasping the mending device with the other hand, the operator actuates the motor so that blade will be vibrating or reciprocating in the previously discussed path and applies the moving blade to the fabric so that the path traced by the tip of the blade will be parallel to but slightly displaced from pull line P. With particular reference to FIG. 2, dotted line 70 indicates a path suitable for the initial application of blade tip 21, although this path may be closer to the actual pull line. Generally one to three stitch rows away from the pull line is an acceptable initial contact point.

Blade 20 is reciprocated by the action of arm 14 which is moving in a path illustrated by arrow 48 in FIG. 1. Note also that the operators hand will move in a direction indicated by arrow 80 in FIG. ll so that the blade will be guided along path 70 by both the vibratory motion provided by the mender motor and the reciprocal motion given to the entire mending device by the operator's hand.

If the blade is applied to the side of the fabric with loop L exposed (FIGS. 1 and 2), care must be taken to avoid snagging and damaging the loop with the blade.

As the moving blade is applied to the fabric, the operator will tension the fabric with his other hand. The proper tension of the fabric is somewhat a function of the type of fabric being mended, but the tension placed on the fabric by the hand gripping the cup must be correlated with theforce applied to the fabric by the moving blade so that the fabric will be depressed slightly in the open cup yet offer sufficient resistance to the mo tion of the blade tip so that the loop may be drawn back into the fabric structure. I have found that this coordination is easily achieved and, in fact, most operators are capable of satisfactorily mending pulls and snags with my mending device after only a few practice runs. While the moving blade is guided back and forth along path 70, the operator will slowly maneuver the entire mending device so that the path traced by the blade tip will approach pull line P. Although the fabric that is stretched across the top of the cup will be rapidly vibrating, the operator will easily observe that the length of loop L is diminishing as the moving blade approaches pull line P. The operator will continue to move the mending device until the path traced by the blade tip corresponds to the pull line in the fabric and, by moving the hand back and forth so that the tip is guided along the pull line, the operator wil observe the loop being drawn back into plane of the fabric. The actual time elapsed for a complete repair is somewhat a function of the thickness and stitch complexity of the fabric but generally the fabric may be mended in 5 to 10 seconds.

Although the operator may apply the blade to the fabric at any point along path 70, I have found that somewhat better results are achieved with some fabrics if the blade first contacts the fabric at a point 7] that is even with the center of loop L. With such an operation, the operator would first concentrate on that portion of the pull line that is located on one side of the loop and would then finish mending the fabric by applying the blade tip to the pull line on the other side of the loop.

EXAMPLES FIGS. 12-22 are enlarged photographs of several samples of knit fabric that are intended to be exemplary of the type of fabric that may be successfully mended according to my invention.

FIGS. 12-15 are all photographs taken of adjoining sections ofa single piece of double knit fabric. FIG. 12 is a photograph of an unsnagged portion of the fabric. Three snagged loops of equal length were formed in three adjoining sections of the fabric of FIG. 12. Loop L is clearly visible in FIG. 13 and the distorted stitches forming pull line P may be seen on both sides of loop L. No attempt was made to mend the pull in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is a photograph of a piece of fabric with a partially repaired pull loop. As is apparent, the distorted stitches on either side of the loop are more nearly shaped like undistorted stitches and the size of loop L is diminished. FIG. 15 is a photograph of that portion of the fabric that originally had the third loop formed therein but after the loop has been mended according to the teachings of the instant invention. Before mending, the loop had extended from the fabric in the region designated generally by the letter X.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are photographs of one side of a bonded knit fabric. Bonded fabrics are well known in the trade and generally consist of one rather loosely knit piece of fabric attached to a tight knit backing piece of fabric by means of an adhesive. Loops of equal length were formed in the sections of fabric visible in FIGS. 16 and 17 and loop L is still evident in the sample of fabric shown in FIG. 17. The sample of fabric shown in FIG. 16 has been mended according to the teachings of the present invention and the site of the repaired loop is indicated generally by the letter X.

FIGS. 18, 21 and 22 are all photographs of relatively heavy denier double knit fabric. As previously described, double knit fabric used in mens and women's outer garments usually falls in the I00 to denier range. The complexity and density of the stitches of these double knit fabrics may be readily observed by an inspection of FIGS. 18, 21 and 22. Each of these three samples had two loops of equal length formed therein. One loop was mended and one loop was retained in the fabric for comparative purposes. The remaining loops are indicated in each photograph by the letter L and the repaired region of the fabric is indicated generally by the letter X. The extent of repair possible in knit fabrics with complex knit structures is readily apparent from these photographs.

FIG. 20 is a photograph of a sample of a fabric knit with a simple, single needle stitch but knit with a relatively heavy denier yarn. The fabric of FIG. 20 was knit on a flatbed knitting machine and the simple stitch structure is clearly evident from an inspection of the photograph. As with the other samples, two loops of equal length were pulled from the fabric and one of the loops was mended according to the teachings of the instant invention. The loop that remains in the cloth for comparative purposes is indicated by the letter L and the region of the mended loop is indicated generally by the letter X.

FIG. 19 is a photograph of a light denier knit fabric that is used in no-run womens hosiery. Again, two loops were formed in the fabric and the loop still remaining in the fabric is indicated by the letter L. The loop that was mended was in the region of the fabric indicated by the letter X. It is noted, of course, that the light denier fabric of FIG. l9 would require a lighter touch by the operator as he applies the mending blade to the fabric stretched across the mending cup. The lighter denier yarns are more easily torn than the heavier denier yarns and the operator would compensate for these differences as he applies the blade to the fabric.

On the basis of this disclosure of the invention, that which I claim is:

1. Apparatus for mending knit fabric comprising working tool means and driving means operatively connected with said working tool means, said working tool means including contacting means for contacting a snagged piece of knitted fabric in the region of said snag and said driving means including means to move said contacting means in substantially a linear, reciprocative path as it contacts the fabric whereby the linear, reciprocative movement of said contacting means as it contacts said snagged fabric will cause said snag to be drawn back into said fabric.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said working tool means is a blade member with two ends and said driving means is operatively connected to one of said ends.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said contacting means is on said second end of said blade.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said contacting means comprises a tip member on said working tool means, said tip member having two curved surfaces and a point formed at the vertex of said two curved surfaces.

5. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein said driving means includes a motor, and mechanical means connecting said motor to said tip member whereby actuation of said motor will drive said tip member in said linear, reciprocative path.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said mechanical means includes an eccentric cam and a cam follower.

7. Apparatus for mending knit fabric comprising a housing, an arm slideably mounted in said housing and having one end extending from said housing, a blade angularly mounted on said one end of said arm and having contacting means thereon for contacting the fabric, and driving means operatively associated with the other end of said arm, said driving means including a gear train and means to transfer rotational motion of said gear train to reciprocative motion of both said arm and said contacting means as it contacts the fabric.

8. A method for mending knit fabric comprising the steps of applying a working tool to a stretched knit fabric in the region of a snag in said fabric, moving said working tool so that the portion of said working tool that contacts said fabric is moving in substantially a linear, reciprocative path as it contacts the fabric, and guiding said moving working tool so that said substantially linear, reciprocative path of said working tool contacts stitches of said fabric that are distorted by said snag.

9. The method of claim 8 including the step of initially stretching the fabric across the open end of a mending cup.

10. The method of claim 8 including the step of controlling the tension of the fabric so that it is correlated with the force applied to the stretched fabric by the working tool so that the fabric will be depressed slightly from a stretched, planar configuration yet offer sufficient resistance to the working tool so that the snag may be drawn back into the fabric structure.

11. The method of claim 8 including the step of applying a wetting agent to the fabric prior to the application of the working tool to the fabric.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the working tool is initially applied to the fabric several stitch rows away from the snag and said guiding of said ,moving working tool is performed so that the path of said working tool approaches and then contacts said distorted stitches.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the working tool is initially applied to the fabric at a region corresponding to the center of the line formed by said distorted stitches.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said working tool is applied to one side of a bonded fabric.

15. Apparatus for mending knit fabric comprising working tool means and driving means operatively con nected with said working tool means, said working tool means including contacting means for contacting a snagged piece of knitted fabric in the region of said snag and said driving means including means to move said contacting means in a linear, reciprocative path that remains in all locations in contact with the fabric whereby the movement of said contacting means as it contacts said snagged fabric will cause said snag to b drawn back into said fabric.

16. A method for mending knit fabric comprising the steps of applying a working tool to a stretched knit fabric in the region of a snag in said fabric, moving said working tool so that the portion of said working tool that contacts said fabric is moving in a linear, reciprocative path, and guiding said moving working tool so that said path of said working tool remains in all locations in contact with said fabric.

l l l t! t 

1. Apparatus for mending knit fabric comprising working tool means and driving means operatively connected with said working tool means, said working tool means including contacting means for contacting a snagged piece of knitted fabric in the region of said snag and said driving means including means to move said contacting means in substantially a linear, reciprocative path as it contacts the fabric whereby the linear, reciprocative movement of said contacting means as it contacts said snagged fabric will cause said snag to be drawn back into said fabric.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said working tool means is a blade member with two ends and said driving means is operatively connected to one of said ends.
 3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said contacting means is on said second end of said blade.
 4. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said contacting means comprises a tip member on said working tool means, said tip member having two curved surfaces and a point formed at the vertex of said two curved surfaces.
 5. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein said driving means includes a motor, and mechanical means connecting said motor to said tip member whereby actuation of said motor will drive said tip member in said linear, reciprocative path.
 6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said mechanical means includes an eccentric cam and a cam follower.
 7. Apparatus for mending knit fabric comprising a housing, an arm slideably mounted in said housing and having one end extending from said housing, a blade angularly mounted on said one end of said arm and having contacting means thereon for contacting the fabric, and driving means operatively associated with the other end of said arm, said driving means including a gear train and means to transfer rotational motion of said gear train to reciprocative motion of both said arm and said contacting means as it contacts the fabric.
 8. A method for mending knit fabric comprising the stepS of applying a working tool to a stretched knit fabric in the region of a snag in said fabric, moving said working tool so that the portion of said working tool that contacts said fabric is moving in substantially a linear, reciprocative path as it contacts the fabric, and guiding said moving working tool so that said substantially linear, reciprocative path of said working tool contacts stitches of said fabric that are distorted by said snag.
 9. The method of claim 8 including the step of initially stretching the fabric across the open end of a mending cup.
 10. The method of claim 8 including the step of controlling the tension of the fabric so that it is correlated with the force applied to the stretched fabric by the working tool so that the fabric will be depressed slightly from a stretched, planar configuration yet offer sufficient resistance to the working tool so that the snag may be drawn back into the fabric structure.
 11. The method of claim 8 including the step of applying a wetting agent to the fabric prior to the application of the working tool to the fabric.
 12. The method of claim 8 wherein the working tool is initially applied to the fabric several stitch rows away from the snag and said guiding of said moving working tool is performed so that the path of said working tool approaches and then contacts said distorted stitches.
 13. The method of claim 8 wherein the working tool is initially applied to the fabric at a region corresponding to the center of the line formed by said distorted stitches.
 14. The method of claim 8 wherein said working tool is applied to one side of a bonded fabric.
 15. Apparatus for mending knit fabric comprising working tool means and driving means operatively connected with said working tool means, said working tool means including contacting means for contacting a snagged piece of knitted fabric in the region of said snag and said driving means including means to move said contacting means in a linear, reciprocative path that remains in all locations in contact with the fabric whereby the movement of said contacting means as it contacts said snagged fabric will cause said snag to be drawn back into said fabric.
 16. A method for mending knit fabric comprising the steps of applying a working tool to a stretched knit fabric in the region of a snag in said fabric, moving said working tool so that the portion of said working tool that contacts said fabric is moving in a linear, reciprocative path, and guiding said moving working tool so that said path of said working tool remains in all locations in contact with said fabric. 